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Bandits And Bees Split Twin Bill

6/16/2013 6:15:53 AM

Brian Blasik belted a grand slam and Carlos Correa had a walkoff single to lead the Bandits to a 6-5 victory over the Bees in Game 1, but the Burlington edged Quad Cities 2-1 in nightcap to split a doubleheader in front of 4,008 fans at Modern Woodmen Park on Saturday night.

Both contests were tied at the end of regulation, with the Bandits winning Game 1 in the ninth inning and the Bees taking Game 2 in the eighth inning.

With the Game 1 tied in the ninth, Correa knocked a single in between left-center, which was bobbled by left fielder Andrew Ray allowed Teoscar Hernandez enough time to race around third to score the game-winning run as the Bandits defeated the Bees 6-5 in Game 1 of the doubleheader.

The Bees jumped on Bandit starter Daniel Minor early with three runs in the first inning of game one. Minor retired the first batter he faced in Sherman Johnson before giving up three straight hits to Kyle Johnson, Wade Hinkle and Ray that tallied the first run. After walking Michael Bolaski to load the bases, Perdro Toribio had a RBI-groundout to shortstop Correa and a passed ball on catcher Roberto Pena allowed the third run to score.

Burlington tallied two more runs in the second inning on a throwing error by Correa, which allowed Wendell Soto to score from second base and a RBI-triple from Hinkle to put the Bees up 5-0.

Hernandez plated the Bandits with a run in the third, on a solo home run that exited Modern Woodmen Park out of left field.

Quad Cities tied the game up with one swing of the bat in the sixth. Blasik rocketed his first home run as a River Bandit into the left field berm for a grand slam scoring Correa, Miles Hamblin and Rio Ruiz. Correa doubled earlier in the inning, Hamblin was hit by a pitch, and Ruiz walked.

Blasik was unable to make a repeat with the bases loaded and two outs in the seventh inning, as the designated hitter popped out to the shortstop Wendell Soto to send the game into extras. Hamblin walked to start the 2-out threat, Ruiz followed with a single and Elkins worked a walk to load up the bases.

Hinkle nearly broke the tie in the ninth on a double to left-center, but Carlos Correa retrieving the relay throw fired to Roberto Pena at the plate in time to catch Johnson attempting to score the go ahead run from first.

Minor (4-2) allowed five runs, three earned, on six hits in four and two-third innings. Right-hander Juri Perez struck out three, walked two, and allowed one hit in three innings for his River Bandits debut. Left-hander Mitchell Lambson (4-3) allowed two hits and tossed the final one and one third innings to pickup the win.

Right-hander Austin Adams (0-1) gave up the winning run and suffered the loss.

Left-hander Tyler DeLoach and right-hander Lance McCullers engaged in a pitching battle during Game 2, with both pitchers only allowing one run that came in the third inning.

Burlington's Sandy Martinez led off the third frame with a single up the middle and scored the game's first run on a triple off the bat of Johnson. Quad Cities answered back in the home half on a RBI-single from Sosa to score Brett Phillips from second base. Phillips, making his River Bandits debut doubled down the left field line on the first Midwest League pitch he saw.

In the eighth inning, Hinkle led off with a single, advanced to second on a groundout to shortstop by Michael Bolaski and eventually scored the game-winning run on Chance Ross' single up the middle.

McCullers allowed six hits, hit one batter and struck out six in five innings for the River Bandits. Right-hander Gera Sanchez entered the game in the sixth and tied a career-high with six strikeouts in two innings. Right-hander John Neely (1-4) allowed the game-deciding run in the eighth and suffered the loss.

DeLoach gave up two hits, walked a batter and fanned four. Robert Powell earned the win after retiring the final four River Bandits batters.

The River Bandits and Bees will meet for their series finale at Modern Woodmen Park on Sunday, with first pitch scheduled for 5:00 p.m. Right-hander Mike Hauschild (4-1) and left-hander Colton Cain (2-5) will toe the rubber for Quad Cities against left-hander Ryan Crowley (6-1) of Burlington.